Designating device



May 5, 1931. M. SHERAS 1,803,733

DESIGNA'I'ING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May '5, 1931. M. SHERAS 1,803,733

' DESIGNATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1928 2 SheetsSheet 2 Mm V 2 mg if Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED, T

MORRIS SHERAS, OF MAN I S'Il.-]3l11,, MICHIGAN DESI N IN D l- Application filed August 11, 1928 Serial No. 29%904,

This invention relates to a designating device, and it more particularly relates to a street or road crossing sign. '7

An object of this invention is to provide an artistic designating device of simple construction which is of satisfactory visibility and which may be utilized under outdoor conditions. I

Another object of this invention is to provide an artistic designating device which is adapted to hold several different signboards and which is adapted to position such sign boards'at varying angles to each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide a designation device which'is adapted to hold several replaceable signboards and Y which is adapted to be readily assembled and disassembled. V

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved street or road crossmg or corner slgn. w 7

Other objects will appear during the course of the following description.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a designating device is provided with a central 'vertical pole. 'About and along this pole are positioned the longitudinal directing sign boards; The pole is of such length thatseveral of these sign'boards may be positioned thereupon. The signboards are connected together by'a series of connecting devices which enable such signs to be positioned at d fferent angles to each other/ The device is provided with a suitable base which is adapted to fition the lower portion of the central pole and clamp the different signs and connecting devices into the desired vertical and angular position.

In the one embodiment of the invention is shown two Signs at right angles to each other, one being positioned above the other.

Figure 1 represents a'front'view of the designating device showing the endof one sign board and a front view of the other sign board;

Figure 2 represents a vertical sectional View of'the designating device upon the line 22-of Figure l;

Figure '3 represents a horizontal sectional upon the central pole 15 he increased to more tions or ribs 31 and 32 view through the center of one of the sign boards oreleinents on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 represents a rear View of one of the base or looking plates of a sign board;

Figure 5 represents a rear View of one of the face plates of the sign board;

Figures 6 and 7 represent the connecting and angular positioning devices of the sign boards or elements;

Figure 8 represents a connecting element between the sign boards; and" Figure 9 represents a mask adapted to fit over one of the letters upon the sign boards. In Figures 1,' 2 and 3 there are positioned two sign boards 16 and 17. The central pole is shown as being round, but if desired, it may be made square or .of other cross section. The two longitudinal sign boards 16 and 17 are centrally positioned upon the pole in a manner which'will be later described and they are shownperpendicular to each other. The number of sign boards upon the pole may than two or may be (he the different sign boards may be positioned upon the pole at a variety of angles to each other in a manner which will be later described.

creased to one and Each of the sign boards 16 and 17 are assembled from two base or and two face plates 40. Their base structure is formed by two opposed base or looking plates 20 (see Figure 4L). These base plates 20 are provided with a long leg 21 anda short leg 22 which are parallel to each other and which are connected together by the web locking plates 20 23. The short leg of each base plate is provided with the horizontal strengthening grooves or ribs 24, 25 and 26. The long legs 9 are provided with horizontalstrengthening grooves 28, 29 and 30. Adjacent to one end of. the long legare two vertical elevated porbetween which is the groove adapted to be used together, the short legs and the long legs cooperating together in pairs so that there will be one long leg and one. short leg supporting each The total length of a short leg and a long Two of the base plates 20 are face plate, I

leg is approximately equal to the length of the sign element. When the sign board or element is assembled, the grooves will be at the center of the assembled structure and they are adapted to cooperate with the central pole to center the sign boards (see Figures 2 and Upon Figure 5 is shown a rear view of one of the face plates of the sign board, which is shown in front view on Figure 1. The face plate 410 is provided 'at its upper end and lower horizontal sides with the bent-over edges -11 and 42 which form the grooves 43 and 44. The letters are embossed with the result that the depressed spaces are left in the rear of the face plate while the raised portions 46, forming the letters, are positioned on the front of the face plate. Each of these face plates is adapted to be supported or locked in position by a short leg and a long leg of the two base plate elements 20 shown in front view in Figure 1 and in rear view in Figure 2.

In assembling one of the sign boards, the two face plates 10 are slipped over the long and short legs 21 and 22 of one of the base elements 20. These face plates are retained on the base plate by means of the channels or slots 13 and 44, (see Figure 2). lvhen two of. the face plates 10 have been positioned upon oneof the base plates 20, the other base plate may he slid into position by placing it within the slots or channels 1-3 and ll with its short and long legs corresponding to the long and short legs, respectively, of the base plate already in position. The inward movement of the base plates is limited bythe ends 4-9 of the .ace plate 40. In this assembled structure there will be a small space t8 (see Figure 2) between the short leg of one base element and the long leg of another. The base or locking plates 26 are prevented from sliding out by the grooves 33 which cooperate with the central-pole 15, one of these grooves being positioned on the long leg of each of the base elements. These grooves serve to center the sign element in addition to functioning to prevent the base elements from being withdrawn when the designating device is assembled. The assembled sign boards or elements are adapted to be placed on the pole by sliding the pole through the assembled board or element in the space between the opposite grooves 33. These sign elements may be moved up and down along a. pole and may be fixed in any desired position, vertical or angular, in a manner to be subsequently described.

The U-clamps or 51 (see especially Figures 6 and 7) are provided with fiat horizontal surfaces 50 and the vertical depending portions 53. In the center of these U- clamps are positioned the hexagonal projections 54 or which are hollow and are adapted to fit over the central pole 15. The U- clamps 50 and 52 are so spaced that there will be slightly less distance between the inside of the vertical portions 53 than there is between the faces of the sign elements. Because of this the U-clamp may be firmly attached and tightly fitted to the central portion of the sign element. The U-clamps 50 or 51 are preferably positioned upon the sign elements 16 or 17 before such elements are slid upon the central pole 15. It will be noted that in the case of the U-clamp 50 that the points of the hexagonal projection 5 1 are in the longest center line of the clamp, whereas in the U- clamp 51, the sides of the hexagonal projection 55 are bisected by the longest center line of the clamp. By means of these varying U- clamps 50 and 51, it is possible to obtain a wide variety of angles between the sign elements.

Between the sign elements 16 and 17 and cooperating with the lower U-clamp of the sign element 16 and the upper U-clamp of the sign element 17 a connecting element is provided. This element has a hexagonal opening 61 extending entirely therethrough. The element is adapted to be positioned upon the central pole 15 by this opening. By varying the character of the U clamps on the bottom of the sign element 16 and the top of the sign element 17, and by varying their position in the connecting device 60, it is possible to position the two signs 16 and 17 so that they will face in the same direction, or at an angleof 15 to each other, or at any angle which is a multiple of 15. By changing the opening 61 and the projections 5t and 55 to other polygonal forms, it is possible to obtain a wider or narrower range of angular displacements.

To the upper end of the pole 15 is attached the top piece 62 which is preferably of some artistic design, the bottom surface of which is also provided with a hexagonal recess 63 which is adapted to cooperate with the hollow projections 51 or 55 of the U-clamps 50 or 51. This will prevent the sign boards or elements from turning around upon the pole. The lower end of the pole 15 is threaded as indicated at 6 1. The base portion 65 is adapted to be screwed upon this threaded portion 64: and is adapted to be held in position by means of the washer 66 and the nut 67. The base 65 is also preferably made of some artistic design as indicated. The base 65, when screwed on as far as it will go, acts to clamp the sign elements 16 and 17 and the connecting element 60 together and forces the uppermost sign board 16 against the fixed element 62' on the top of the central pole 15. The upper side of the base 63 is provided with a wide circular opening 68 which embraces but does not cooperate with the hollow projections 54 and- 55. On the U- clamp which is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the base element 65 ispositioned a lit) metal sheet or blank 69 which acts to contact with the upper surface of the'base element 65 when it is screwed into clamping position.

Upon Figure 9 is showna mask 75 which is adapted to fit over the letters of the face plate when it is desired to paint or repaint the face plate or the designating device. The embossed or raised letters 46 project a suflicient distance beyond the surface of the face plate 40 so that they will retain the mask 75 when such mask is positioned thereupon.

The display or face plate 40 is preferably made of aluminum while the base plates 20 which'lock the face plates together are preferably made of rustless iron plate. Both these plates are preferably made out of one piece of metal and are stamped into'the desired shape. The face plates are coated or painted in the following manner. The sheet of metal is first pressed to show the letters in relief, and the raised or embossed letters are polished. The field or the background. is then sand blasted. The raised portions are covered by a mask such as 7 5 and the whole face, including the mask, is painted with an air brush. There will be no tendency for the mask to fall off during this operation since the force of the paint applied by the'air. brush tends to hold this mask in position. These face plates may be painted in this manner u'nassembled, or when assembled in the designating device. All other parts of the designating device including the base 65, the connecting element and the top of the pole 62 are coated with a similar pigment. After the painting operation is completed the mask is removed. The preferred paint is black nitrocellulose lacquer such as duco. By finishing thesign in this manner the letters or numerals have a highly polished, natural,

aluminum finish which contrasts sharply with the black painted field. Upon weathering, the'letters or figures of the aluminum face plate take on a film or corrosion of silver grey color and still remains attractive and durable.

It will be noted that .the hexagonal or other polygonal interfitted U-clamp and connecting members provide a multitude of angles at which the signs may be displayed to conform with the angular intersection of streets. If desired, however, the signs may be used as guide signs oras warning signs, and both sign elements 16 and 17 may be positionedso as to face in the same direction.

If desired, the central po le 15 may be made of some polygonal shape instead of being round and the grooves 33 may be similarly shaped so as to cooperate therewith. If this is done it will bepo'ssible to eliminate the in terfitting hexagonal projections and recesses since a varying number of angular positions may be obtained due to the interlocking pole and grooves. The method of painting the signs is more fully described and claimed in a copending applicatiom'Serial N 0. 298,903, tiled August 11, 1928.

IVhat is claimed is: e r

1. In a designating device, a central smooth cylindrical pole, longitudinal doublefaced sign boards slidably positioned upon, and embracing, said pole and adapted to be placed with their longer dimension in horizontal position, connecting devices slidably positioned on said pole and adapted to position the double faced sign boards at the desired angle to each other and two projections upon each of the inside faces of said boards adapted to form a pocket for and cooperate with said pole to hold said slidable boards in position upon said pole.

2. In a designating device, a central pole, longitudinal double-faced sign boards slidably positioned upon, and embracing, said pole and adapted to be placed with their longer dimension in horizontal position,

clamps provided with a central opening to fit over the central pole, provided with side bottom and clamp together the opposite faces of the sign board and being also provided with projections extending above and below the edges of the board, interfitting recessed connecting devices slidably positioned on said pole and adapted tocooperate with said projections and to position the double faced sign boards at the desired angle to each other and means adapted tobe rigidly attached to said pole to hold said slidable boards and said slidabl connecting devices in position.

3. In a designating device, a central pole, longitudinal double-faced sign boards slida-bly positioned upon, and embracing, said pole and adapted to be placed with their longer dimension in horizontal position, hex- 'on said pole and adapted to cooperate with saidh'exagonal projections and to position the double faced sign boards at the desired angle to each other and means adapted to be rigidly attached to said pole to hold said slidable boards and said slidable connecting devices in position.

4. In a street corner sign, a central pole, slidable double faced street designating signs thereupon, and means to positionsaid signs fixedly upon said pole, said signs comprising two oppositely positioned'frames provided with parallel, but separated, short and long legs, two face plates, the opposite ends of each face plate being secured to the short leg of one frame and to the long leg'of another frame.

5. In a street corner sign a central pole,

slidable double faced street designating signs thereupon, means to position said signs fixedly upon said pole, sai'd'signs-comprising edly upon said pole, said two base portions with parallel long legs and short legs made from one piece of metal said base portions being adapted to cooperate with each other so that the short leg of one and the long leg of the other will be approximately equal to the length of the sign and w'll form the base of one side of the sign, While the other pair of short and long legs form the base for the other side of the sign, two face plates provided with slots upon their horizontal edges by means of which they are adapted to fit upon said pairs of long and short legs, and clamps adapted to fit over the opposite sides of the double faced sign and "is to position said sign uponthe central pole.

6. In a street corner sign a central pole, slid able double faced street designating signs thereupon, means to position said signs fixsigns comprlsing two oppositely positioned frames provided with parallel, but separated, short and long legs, two face plates each secured to the short leg of one base frame and the long leg of another and cooperating projections on the in side of the long legs which are positioned so that they will be in the center of the sign and Opposite each other adapted to center the sign upon the central pole.

7. In a multi-angular designating device, a central pole, vertically adjustable double faced sign boards centrally positionedthereupon and embracing said pole, stops at the ends of said pole adapted to determine the vertical positions of the boards the upper stop being at the top of the pole and the lower stop being adapted to screw onto the lower end of the pole and to form a base for the device, recessed connecting devices positioned between said boards, and cooperating connecting devices adapted to fit upon the top and bottom of the boards provided with projections which cooperate with the above described recessed devices and angularly position the boards.

8. In a multi-angular designating device, a central pole, vertically adjustable doubl faced sign boards centrally positioned thereupon, and embracing said pole, stops at the ends of said pole adapted to determine the vertical positions of the boards the upper stop being at the top of the pole and being polygonally recessed on its lower surface and the lower stop being adapted to screw onto the lower end of the pole and to form a base for the device, polygonally recessed connecting devices positioned between said boards, and clamps with hollow polygonal projections dapated to fit upon said pole and to be secured on the center of the top and bottom of said boards and adapted to cooperate with the above described recessed portions and angularly position the boards.

9. In a multi-angular designating device, a central pole, a plurality of parallel-faced .2 c sign elements positioned upon said pole, connecting members provided with polygonal recesses fitting upon said pole and additional connecting members also fitting upon said pole with portions adapted to fit over the medial horizontal edges of the signs and also with projecting portions adapted to cooperate with said polygonal recesses to vary the angle between the sign elements and clamping means to hold said sign elements in position upon the pole.

10. In a designating device, a central smooth cylindrical pole, double-faced sign boards slidably positioned upon, and embracing, said pole, connecting devices placed on said pole and adapted to position the double-faced sign boards at the desired angle to each other, and two projections upon each of the inner sides of said sign boards extending vertically substantially the entire width of said board adapted to form a pocket to receive said pole and cooperate with said poles to centrally position said sign boards.

11. In a designating device, a central pole, doublefaced sign boards positioned upon, and embracing, said pole, cooperating connecting devices adapted to fit upon the top and bottom of the boards provided with projections, devices positioned upon said pole adapted to cooperate with said projections and to position the sign boards at the desired angle to each other, said projections being provided with central openings adapted to fit over and embrace the central pole.

12. In a designating device, a vertical pole, double-faced sign boards positioned upon, and embracing, said pole, clamps provided with a central opening to fit over the central pole, provided with side pieces adapted to lit over the medial top and bottom and clamp together the opposite faces of the sign board and being also provided with projections extending above and below the edges of the board, and connecting devices positioned upon said pole, intermediate to said boards and recessed so as to cooperate with the pro jections upon said clamping devices.

13. In a multi-angular designating device, a central smooth cylindrical pole, vertically adjustable double faced sign boards embracing said pole, stops at the ends of said pole adapted to determine the vertical positions of the boards, connecting devices between the boards adapted to determine the angular position of the boards and two proj ectio-ns upon each of the inside faces of said boards adapted to forma pocket and cooperate with said pole to hold said slidable boards in position upon said pole.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MORRIS SHERAS. 

